Ipswichvs.Man City

The champions remarkably let a 2-0 lead slip in a 2-2 stalemate with Brentford in midweek, and Guardiola should be working with a near-identical squad from that four-goal thriller.

John Stones (foot) is the only stricken player who might be in with a chance of returning, but Rodri (ACL), Oscar Bobb (leg) and Ruben Dias (calf) are still missing, while Kyle Walker is also not expected to be involved as he searches for a new club.

Guardiola interestingly gave Matheus Nunes the nod at right-back over Rico Lewis at the Gtech Community Stadium, but as this encounter comes just three days before they face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, a few changes might be in order.

Lewis for Nunes would be an obvious swap to make, but Nathan Ake, Josko Gvardiol and Manuel Akanji should all hold their spots in defence in front of Stefan Ortega, unless new signing Abdukodir Khusanov arrives in time for his debut.

Ilkay Gundogan and Jeremy Doku could also benefit from some rotation, but Phil Foden - scorer of both of Man City's goals at Brentford - ought to retain his place as he aims to score in three straight Premier League games for the first time since October 2022.

Fresh from signing a bewildering nine-and-a-half-year contract extension, Golden Boot holder Erling Haaland is out to become just the second Premier League player to score a hat-trick against the same team twice in one season after Emmanuel Adebayor, who did so for Arsenal against Derby County in 2007-08.

The 24-year-old did not look entirely comfortable in the Brentford game, but there are no serious doubts about his availability for this one.

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

Ortega; Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Gundogan; Foden, De Bruyne, Doku; Haaland

Written by

Ben Knapton